anybody can play the fool

I am starting to dig into Mark Twain’s epic autobiography, and I just got through reading his accounts of how he ended up publishing General US Grant’s memoirs. There are two rather surprising discoveries in these Twain writings. First, you can tell that he absolutely worshiped Grant, as many likely did in the 1880s. Grant, after all, had led the Union to victory in the Civil War. This is funny only because Twain was often so cynical that seeing him idolize a person is downright weird!

The other lesson you see in these writings, though, is something quite different. What you learn is that Ulysses S. Grant, “Unconditional Surrender” Grant, the man who accepted Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, was often played for a fool.

Banks and Books

The main offender against Grant, according to Twain, was a man by the name of Ward, who worked with Grant’s son in a bank. Grant was a silent partner. Ward was one of those guys who could convince you huge tracts of land existed that would be excellent investments. He could tell you that he would pay you right back and you’d believe him even though he hadn’t paid you back last time. He convinced the Grant family that he was reliable enough. After all, they started a business with him. But eventually, Ward cleaned out not only the Grant family but also anyone associated with them.

This experience continued to pierce Grant until he died, but it did not prevent him from nearly walking into similar situations. As Grant began to write articles and then his memoirs, he got offers from various publishers. Some offered him a 10% royalty. Others offered him small amounts of money for articles he was writing about the great battles he had fought in the Civil War. To Twain, these articles were priceless. Not only were they reminiscences of a great hero, but Grant’s articles would inspire other heroes to write articles for those magazines too. Twain was dumb-founded at how little Grant was being offered for his work, and he was perplexed that Grant was willing, despite his experience with Ward, to take all of the publishers at their word.

Something Twain knew a bit about

It’s certainly surprising to find that Grant was so easily fooled and so very trusting in people. What’s equally surprising is that Twain, who could be so biting, so sarcastic, so disappointed in humanity, would be taken for just as much of a ride as Grant was. You see, Mark Twain got ensnared by a man who told Twain he had invented a revolutionary typesetting device. Twain went in to see the machine and was wowed by it. He relied on a lawyer who said it was a great investment. Twain kept giving the inventor money, even though he noticed the inventor himself never bet any of his own money on these efforts. This went on for decades, not days or weeks, and Twain lost an extremely substantial amount of money as a result. So, even while he was coaching Grant on how to avoid a scam, Twain was being scammed himself.

Trusting is forgivable

What does this mean for us in this age of technology? It means that sometimes we may guess wrong about people. In this era of online communication, it’s harder than ever to guess at someone’s real personality and real motives. It’s so easy to believe those people who email you and say, “Oh, I need money sent to me right away, I got robbed on vacation!” It’s so easy to believe that someone is one way when they are in fact not that way at all.

If you have gotten ensnared by such a scenario, or even come close, it can be really easy to beat yourself up. “I’m smarter than this!” you might say.

But history tells us that even the smartest of the smart, the most cynical of the cynical, the bravest of the brave – even they fell for silly tricks sometimes. This doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind. It just means that we’re all only human. Cut yourself a break. Tricksters can be really good at what they do. It’s their full-time job.

What do you think?

Image by Ulrik De Wachter. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Ulrik

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Comments

We have to be careful that we don’t allow ourselves to fall for taking the “short cut” or easy way to any gain. Those are the times we generally find our judgment clouded, and our ability to discern threat weakened.

Today’s technology only exposes us to threats at greater speeds, while on the other hand it also aid us in exposing those threats just as quickly.

Sames rules apply today as they did back then. Look before you leap, and don’t take the easy path despite the promise you believe you see down that path.

Twain’s autobiography is stellar. I actually picked up the first volume as an audiobook for a road trip that Cassie and I went on. I have only made it a little past where this story takes place. What an interesting tale indeed. I was a little shocked to listen to how both Grant and Twain were both taken for fools; however, it is not much different from what happens every day with Internet marketing and social media.

The vast majority of business people “get” that they should be playing in these media, but because of the time involved with learning many of the more technical issues involved, they often get led astray by slick talking sales people that may or may not have a great product or service. I will totally admit to making these types of mistakes myself, especially as a consumer that loves the latest, greatest tech gadget (boy I am glad I purchased that Flip camera). 🙂

Your point is well taken. When was the last time you found someone of interest on Twitter, followed him/her and then ended up getting a ton of spam about some killer social media tool that will solve all the world’s problems. I would say that the good often outweighs the bad when it comes to this stuff. I have met so many fantastic people and there is no way I would ever stop trusting them just because of a few butt heads.

You know, I think I like you. You appreciate Ken Burns AND Mark Twain!? 🙂 Jeepers.

You are right – we can’t throw out the milk just because there’s a single fly in it, right? Although, having watched The Fly, I’d be sorely tempted. It’s important to keep your on the positive, no question 🙂

Another thought provoking post Margie. I think they are really two types of trust going on here, a business level trust and a personal relationship trust. Of course they can and do overlap.

On a business level I always read the fine print (even those 8 page online contracts, bleck) and I always have a contract when I do business with someone. Not only does it protect you, it avoids honest misunderstandings.

On a personal level I would hate to put money before friendship or family. Have there been times I haven’t been paid back? Sure, but I’ve never given out so much money that my immediate family would suffer. If you need an inspiring blog check out hundredsofhundreds [dot] com.

Point very well made. The toughest situations are when friendship and business overlap. I worked as an assistant apartment manager when I was in grad school and my boss always shook her head when two good friends wanted to room together.

“It never works,” She’d always say. “They’re never still friends when the lease is up.”

She was right.

You have to be so straightforward in situations like that – so transparent, one might say.